Feank j



(No Modl.)

` F. BAYER.

TRICYCLE.

No. 372,106. Patented Oct. 25, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT @einen FRANK J. BAYER, OF DU BOIS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO EDWARD I LEASE, OF SAME PLACE.

TRicYcLt-z.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,106, dated @ctober 25, 1887.

Application filed August 19, 1887. Serial No. 217,343. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.:

Beit known that I, FRANK J. BAYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Du Bois, in the county of Clearfield and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tricycles; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

This invention relates to tricycles or vehicles that are propelled by manual power.

The object of the invention is the production of a machine which will be compact in construction and can be conveniently handled and quickly thrown in and out of mesh and gear for speed or power.

The improvement consists in the novel construction and combination of parts,which will be more fully hereinafter set forth and claimed, andshown in the annexed drawings, in which- Figure l is a side view, parts being broken away, of a trieycle of my construction embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a top plan View, and Fig. 3 a rear View, of the same.

The platform A is supported by the wheels B on the axle b, journaled beneath and near the rear end of said platform. One of the wheels revolves loosely on the axle; the other wheel is keyed to and revolves with the axle. The plate C, placed on the forward end of the platform, is pivotally connected therewith, so as to revolve in a horizontal plane, and has the standard D extended upwardly and forwardly therefrom. The frame, composed of the side bars, a, and the filling-piece a, is secured between its ends to the top of standard D, and is arranged at an incline to a horizontal plane. journaled between the front ends of the side bars, a, and the ends of its shaft project and are provided with cranks e. The counter-shaft F, journaled near the rear end of the frame, has cranks f on each end, which are connected with cranks e by the pitmen f.

The swinging support, composed of uprights g and cross-piece g,is pivoted atits lower ends The steering or guide wheel B is to the standard D,and its upper end is guided in its movements by having the ends of the uprights work in slots c2 in the ends of the side bars, a, of the frame. The crankshaft G, journaled in the upperend of the support, has a speed-cone, g2, which comes opposite a'corresponding speed-cone,f2,on the counter-shaft F. The band H passes around and connects the two speed-cones gr'l f 2, which are provided with spurs that enter openings in the band to effect a more positive engagement between them. The speed or power of the vehicle depends upon th'e position of band H with reference to the speed-cones, which will be readily understood. It is to facilitate the shifting of 6 band H that the support g g is pivoted at its lower end so as to swing toward shaft F,when

v the lever-brace I, hinged to standard D, is released from said support.A When said support is swung inward, the distance between the two shafts F and G is lessened and the band H can be readily adjusted. rIhis feature is necessary; otherwise theband could not be disengaged from thespurs. The bands being adjusted, the frame is swung outward and its position is fixed by the lever-brace I, which is turned down until the pin g3 of thesupport enters the opening i in said brace.

The brakeis composed-of the lever .Lpivoted midway its ends beneath the platform. One end. is adapted to be thrown in contact with and bearuponthefriction pulleyb. 'Iheotherend is'provided with the presser-bar j, which extendsthrough theaperturej,withinconvenient reach of the occupants foot.` 8

The seat K is mounted on spring-bars 7c,p ro jected upward from platform A. The vehicle is steered by the occupant placingl his feet on the rods m,pr0jected laterally from the foot'of standard D,and is drivenfrom shaft G through band H, shaft E, and pitmenf. Shaft Ghas cranks u at each end, to be grasped Vby the hands when applying the power. To prevent the sli ppingof the wheel B,it has spurs placed around its periphery, which bite into the ground and insure a firm purchase for it.

p Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. The combination, with the frame com rco posed ofthe side bars, a, and the filling-piece a,and the wl1eelB,journaled between the front ends of the side bar, a, and having cranks e, of the counter-shaft E, the pitnienf, connecting cranks f with cranks e, the crank-shaft G, and gearing for connecting the shafts G and F, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the frame consisting of the side bars, a, having slots a2 in its ends, and the filling-piece a', the wheel B', and the eountersha'ft F, connected with the wheel B for imparting motion thereto, of the swinging support having its nprights fitted in and guided in its movements insaid slots at, the shaft G, the band H, connecting the shafts G and F, and the brace-lever I, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the platform, the rear axle and wheels, and the plate pivoted to the front of the platform, of the standard, the

frame, the steering-wheel, the counter-shaft, the pitmen connecting the counter-shaft with the shaft ofsaid wheel,and meclianisu1,substan tially as described, for driving said countershaft, as and for the purposes specified.

4. The combination, with the platform having an aperture therethrough within convenient reach of the foot, the axlejournaled thereto, and the wheel keyed on the axle, of the bar pivoted midway its ends beneath the platform, one end coming opposite and adapted to bear on the presser-rod, connected with the other end of the bar and extending through said aperture, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK J. BAYER.

Vitnesses:

J oHN BAYER, ANTHONY I. BAYER. 

